Police charge Cal Poly junior with hit and run felony

Author

Carly Heltzel
January 13, 2026

Good morning. It’s Monday, and I’m listening to Bob Weir’s essential music moments, honoring the Grateful Dead founding member who died at 78 over the weekend. Onto the five Cal Poly, SLO and California stories you need to know for today.

1.

Police arrested a Cal Poly junior on suspicion of crashing his car into two 20-year-old women and fleeing the scene. He’s being charged with two felony hit and runs. Both women were hospitalized with serious but non-life threatening injuries. The crash took place just off campus on Crandall Way at 9:30 p.m. on Thursday night. The suspect, an electrical engineering major and facility supervisor, was located Friday morning after police found his abandoned car.

2.

All the dams that supply water to SLO County are remarkably full this year, with Santa Margarita Lake reaching 101.5% full yesterday, overflowing and almost reaching the steps of the marina store. Other notable reservoirs are Lopez Lake at 81% capacity and Whale Rock at 87%. As of yesterday, none of the state’s counties face drought conditions. “It’s all good news,” one reservoir manager said. 

3.

California’s gas prices are down, averaging 15 cents cheaper than at this time last year. The state averaged $4.22 per gallon on Monday, the second highest in the nation after Hawaii. Nationwide, gas prices reached their lowest since 2021, at an average of $2.80 — an unthinkable number for this state but an indicator nonetheless. The same report place SLO-area prices averaging $4.43, but I’ve seen cheaper around town.

4.

Tired of people selling your data? You can opt out using a new California state website called Delete Request and Opt-out Platform, or DROP. The 2023 law mandating that data brokers in the state allow people to opt out of their data being sold, but previously people would have to contact every broker individually — there are over 500 registered and many obscured their forms. This new site contacts all of them, and brokers must begin processing requests by August.

5.

SLO Restaurant Month is back. This month is the second rendition of the city’s attempt to stir up business for the usually slow month of January. Participating restaurants must offer special discounted menus to encourage eaters to come out. Diners also can submit to enter a weekly raffle for four $250 gift cards if they dine at a participating restaurant. Last year, the program generated a 4% revenue boost for restaurants in the city.